History

“hungrier than I thot” — Ishmael Reed


i thought         with this last chapter
you’d be easy to dismiss         far better
touched by a fish         than dismissed by a
love         but it stays hungry

thing is         you said         you’re a decent person
when was that ever not enough?
there’s too much too tell         not
enough to tell

and where you are i do not know
nor do i care         you are where
small white plastic grocery sacks
flutter in the wind         caught in

the limbs of thorny shrubs         you
are where scents i never knew before
come         unbidden every time i shower
in an unfamiliar place

and they are all unfamiliar places
and i wish you well         i do
withdrawing pardon from the pastern months
while i die somewhat



[1/12/05]